WWYD - toddler has 40.3 temp

[Nosleepingclub]

Posting here for traffic please be kind I’m so worried

2 year old has had high temp for two days, put some of it down to the heatwave but today it was still 39.6

called 111 had a doctors appointment this morning and they diagnosed tonsillitis and gave antibiotics

however even with continuing pain relief his temp is still on the up and is now at 40.3

he won’t eat (obviously the throat is sore) and is clearly very unwell, is lethargic and not himself

i’m back on the phone to 111 but I just feel like am I being OTT because he’s already been diagnosed

hes such a trooper usually (can genuinely be quite unweel and still be himself) but today he’s been so poorly

Am I being dramatic?

Spoke to 111 going to have a call back within the hour. Temp is now 39.7

thank you everyone for your advice and kind words.

trying to deal with this the best I can and felt like such a dramatic mum but I know inside he’s not himself and this doesn’t feel right.

thanks again.

will let you know what the doctor says

Better to be dramatic than regret not acting.

That’s what I’m finding too and it’s so annoying that he’s not due his ibuprofen for another hour

Call 111 and ask their advice, a&e in the Midlands can be a 9 hour wait currently but the 111 service can bypass the queue and get you in quicker to be seen. From experience you can have an incredibly I'll child in a&e and they'll still make you wait the 9 hours.

If it doesn’t feel right then don’t wait for a call back, just drive to A & E. Please don’t sit there waiting for the phone to ring, because you don’t want to make a fuss. Make a fuss, you are his advocate. Sometimes the promised hour call back doesn’t happen anyway.

Anything over 39 is high enough for a febrile convulsion.
It's not the high temperature so much as a rapid rise.

It depends on how he is as to what I'd do. if he's not really waking, not taking any liquids, confused etc then I'd take to A&E. If he's awake and taking interest in the surroundings and drinking plenty, then give full doses of ibroprofen and calpol and give a bit longer.

From what you've said A&E sounds sensible because he is clearly unwell as well as has a temperature. They should be able to give him stronger medication when he's under observation. I'd get there asap as the place starts filling up on a Saturday night.

One of mine would still be running round happily playing when her temperature was over 41, and another of mine needed urgent medical attention at under 39 because of the behaviour with it so it does vary.

Seizures need checking out, I'd go to A&E based on those alone, but yes as others have said, a temp that high not responding to Calpol Id have my child at A&E.

My 3 year old had a febrile convulsion when he was 1, we phoned and ambulance and it came sirens blazing. The paramedics were greay and took him in to get checked out, everything was fine, but I'm glad we did.

I hope they feel better soon.

Please take him to a and e asap! My son is 2 and had it and I was told if calpol etc doesnt bring it down to under 38C he needs to be in a and e as they can have temp related convulsions. If you cant get him there id dial 999 as it is very urgent he is seen.
Your not being over dramatic at all.

I typed out a long post saying don't worry it's not too high, some kids run higher than others but if he's having seizures definitely take him in.

My ds1 always spiked high temps when he was poorly, I would think if everything else is OK you should just follow the guidance. Obviously if they have any new symptoms or think they are deteriorating then a trip to A&E would be wise.

He was so ill with hand foot and mouth? Is that the virus? He wouldn't take medicine, I had to sneak it into drinks poor love.

@cornflakegirl why on earth would they not give antibiotics? I swear to fucking God they are trying to kill us off. I had so many chest, ear, throat infections when I was a kid. Thankfully they actually treated people before they went into crisis then.

Take him to A&E immediately.

He needs to be checked for meningitis and a host of other infections.

I hope the call back is helpful. My youngest is always like this with illnesses, ibuprofen definitely impacts the temperature more than calpol in my experience. It’s awful trying to make the judgment call about when they need to be seen by a doctor and when they just need to ride it out and sleep it off. Hope you get some reassurance or whatever is needed from 111.

Do you mean rigors from the temp or 3 actual seizures?

OP if he's having/had febrile seizures he needs go to A&E to be checked over. Keep looking at his entire body closely for a rash too. Please don't be afraid to take him in - maternal instinct can be so strong and is very often accurate. Most doctors know this and will work with you if you say something isn't right. Either way, get him seen. IF he has another convulsion, ring 999 with no hesitation. Hope he will be okay!

Honestly I wouldn’t know but he was in my arms shaking, his mouth was open and moving like he was shivering but it was like way worse? He was holding on to a toy and it was just flailing. The doctor said it was a seizure (as I described him having the same thing last night) and then the pharmacist said that was normal (whilst it was happening)

i may so sound awful but the wait at our a & e right now is 8 hours, hence why I keep calling 111. I’m just worried if I go up there without an appointment he’ll be fully dressed (currently in a nappy) surrounded by lots of noise and bright lights and it’ll make him worse.

obviously if the doctor says to go up to a&e I definitely will but if they do, they usually give you a slot so you don’t have to wait as long (maybe 4 hours)

he’s perked up a tiny bit which is great! Was able to get some salty crisps into him (he hasn’t eaten really today) and he drank two cups of water!

temp is 39.6 so maybe the calpol is helping, but thank goodness he’s ibuprofen very soon!

If he’s having seizures get him to a and e OP.

Thank you. If he fits again I’ll be going to A&E like immediately. He has got what looks like a viral rash come up (doctor said it was viral rash) but it’s now spread (maybe the roaring temperature hasn’t helped)

He asked to go to bed at 5:30pm which for my son is unheard of (creature of the night) but he’s now awake and a tiny bit more perky!

There is no cut off for temperature - treat the child not the number - but it sounds as if you are worried about your child and for that I would seek another review regardless of what the number on the thermometer is saying. Hope you get some advice soon.

Your child needs to be in a&e and I imagine that's what ooh will say.

A temp not going down with a combination of paracetamol and ibuprofen plus seizures is not good, is this the first time your child has had a seizure?

Also - a previous poster said 111 can bypass an a&e queue. That is absolutely not true unfortunately.

What does the rash look like? Did you mention this to 111 when you called?

Your child needs to be seen.

Yes this is very important. Does the rash fade when pressed with a glass?

Have you done the glass test on the rash?

The advice given from the pharmacy is appalling too. A child having a seizure isn’t normal, nevermind repeatedly. Especially if this is the first time this has happened.

I’d be taking him to A and E. Sepsis, meningitis etc would have me in there (I mean the worry). Could it be chickenpox OP?